chopping with the bonecutter :-)

S

selanne8

Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
38
i had some scrap wood that wouldn't fit in the dumpster this weekend, so that meant breaking out the bonecutter :-)

the wood happened to have a couple nails that i thought i could chop around, but it looks like i still need to practice a little more. to make a long story short, when i'd hit a nail with the hardened part of the blade, the nail ended up getting chopped :-) but when i hit it outside the sweet spot, i got a small chip or slight roll. oh well, it builds character :-)

i was very, very pleased knowing that the sweet spot is literally "tougher than nails" :-) as for the small chip and rolls - i'm pretty sure the karda will make short work of the rolls and a little sandpaper will take care of the chip.

i'm not much of a knife person, but is it normal to be able to chop through nails with a half strength swing? i just don't want to get spoiled thinking, "well, the bonecutter can chop it, so my buddies non-HI khuk should be able to handle it too..."
 
Don't get spoiled--your buddy might wind up hurting their non-HI. HI has always been known for selling the best khukuris. Often imitated, but seldom do the competition come up to HI standards consistently. Safe and happy chopping to you selanne8:D.
 
Selanne, if you still happen to have the wood with nails in it PLEASE take some pictures of nails that you chopped through as well as the knife itself (yes even with the dings outside of the sweetspot) I want to see this! It sounds like your bonecutter has an amazingly high quality heat treatment and it goes to show that HI hires the best Kamis around
 
Selanne,

This all boils down to a simple equation, the hardness of the knife edge compared to the hardness of the nail. The nail is hardened specifically so it can take impacts. Nails do vary in hardness and of course time and rust break down that hardness but usually, the nail will win. On the other hand the kukri is made from relatively soft spring steel. By being soft (relatively) it's edge is easy to sharpen and the blade absorbs impacts by being able to bend a bit rather than break, shatter or chip like a harder steel.

And did I mention that the nail took about a second to make and costs a half cent while the kukri took an artisan many many many hours to make and costs $100 - $200! I would recommend that you stay away from nails.
 
Speaking of nails, Buck knives used to have a logo drawing showing a nail being cut. I think they have stopped showing this.

Telechronos said:
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NEMOAd-June1968.jpg
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[from Buck knives subforum]
 
unfortunately, i don't have the wood or nails still. one chop went through part of the nail head and then maybe halfway through the body of the nail itself. another nail strike just went though the body.

from what i've read on the forum, sgt. khadka is second to none and apparently his bonecutters have a premium because of his reputation and craftsmanship. his reputation is well deserved!

i'll take some pics of the blade as i haven't touched it up yet.

and yes, i'm definitely not planning on chopping through anymore nails. uncle bill described chopping nails in part of his destructive testing - i'm gonna quit while i'm ahead and give my bonecutter a passing grade :-)
 
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